Regimental number | 345 |
Date of birth | |
Place of birth | Boort, Victoria |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Occupation | Grazier |
Address | Devon, Deniliquin, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 26 |
Height | 5' 8.25" |
Weight | 132 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Amelia Chalmers, Acacia, Mysia, Victoria |
Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of defective sight) |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 22nd Battalion, B Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/39/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on |
Regimental number from Nominal Roll | Commissioned |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Lieutenant |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 2nd Machine Gun Battalion |
Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Cross 'Work near Zonnebeke on 6 October 1917.' Second citation reads: 'In the afternoon of the 6th Oct., 1917, Lieut. CHALMERS moved his battery of 8 M.G.'s forward half a mile to a position East of ZONNEBEKE CHURCH and had all the guns ready to answer S.O.S. call in extremely short time. This he did notwithstanding the marshy nature of the ground, persistent enemy shelling and continuous casualties. On the night of 6th Oct., while guns were answering to S.O.S., this officer, though he had been burned and severely shaken and with more than 50 per cent of the personnel killed or wounded, kept his guns firing till the situation cleared. He then withdrew his battery according to orders and personally reportyed the situation to Group H.Qrs. Throughout his work was of a high standard of efficiency and his personal bearing an inspiration to his men.'(J. Paton, Brigadier-General, 2nd Australian Division) Recommendation date: |
Fate | Returned to Australia |
Discharge date | |
Family/military connections | Brother: 3620 Pte Wallace Hugh CHALMERS, 4th Light Horse, returned to Australia, 15 June 1919; Cousins (1st): 1814 Pte Arthur Gordon CHALMERS, 38th Bn, returned to Australia, 16 December 1917; 2598 Pte David Alexander CHALMERS, 7th Bn, killed in action, 20 August 1916; 1815 Pte Peter CHALMERS MM, killed in action, 13 October 1917; 1816 Pte Thomas Main CHALMERS, 38th Bn, returned to Australia, 15 April 1918; Lt Albert BORELLA VC, 26th Bn, returned to Australia, 23 February 1919. |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Record of service does not record details of service at Gallipoli. He probably fell sick, and was hospitalised on Mudros Island, returning thence to Alexandria, Egypt. Disembarked from Mudros at Alexandria, 7 January 1916; proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 24 March 1916. Took part in raid on enemy trenches, night of 29-30 June 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 28 July 1916; Temporary Corporal, 19 November 1916; Corporal 28 December 1916. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the field, 9 February 1917, and transferred to 2nd Division Machine Gun Company, England, 9 February 1917. Transferred to 22nd Machine Gun Depot, Grantham, 13 February 1917; returned to France, 17 March 1917. Promoted Lieutenant, 13 May 1917 On Command, 5th Army Rest Camp for 14 days, 28 May 1917; rejoined unit, 11 June 1917. On leave to United Kingdom, and awarded Military Cross, 8 July 1917; returned from leave, 24 November 1917. Attached to 7th Field Artillery Brigade, 30 November-5 December 1917. Suffered trench fever, 1917. Detached to 2nd Army School of Instruction, 9 February-16 March 1918 (hospitalised 18-28 February 1918). Proceeded on leave in France, 21 December 1918; rejoined unit, 30 December 1918. Commenced returned to Australia on board HT 'Lancashire', 7 February 1919; arrived Melbourne, 24 March 1919. Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Miscellaneous details | Name given on Embarkation Roll as Archibald CHALMERS. |
Date of death | |
Age at death | 81 |
Place of burial | Deniliquin Cemetery, New South Wales |
Sources | NAA: B2455, CHALMERS Archibald Chesterman |